September is a glorious time for the fashion lover.
Phonebook-sized magazines enticingly showcase the best upcoming clothes and accessories. Problem is, few of us have the kind of bank accounts to afford such sartorial splendor.
What’s a budget-minded fashionphile to do? Local experts offer tips on creating a chic wardrobe that doesn’t cost a mortgage payment (or three).
The advisers
- Yekatherina Bruner
- , image consultant and event planner, ykstudioonline.com
- Loreto Echevarria
- , designer and personal stylist, lolochic.com
- Stephanie Lew
- , marketing director for Buffalo Exchange Ltd.
- Julie Reed
- , sale shopper extraordinaire and blogger, TucsonInStyle.com and TucsonMama.com
It’s wise to accessorize
Accessories are cheaper than entire ensembles.
“Scarves, necklaces, belts, hats — all can help transform any outfit. It is a chic way of reinventing the already-favorite pieces in your wardrobe. It is also a great way to add a pop of color.”
Loreto Echevarria
Clothing Purgatory
Pull the clothes that aren’t quite fitting or you’re not wearing and stash them in a bin for awhile. “Then go back and you have all these new clothes. To further extend this, you could even swap “purgatory” bins with somebody about your size, and you each have a new wardrobe for a year and then you can switch back and see how you feel about it.”
Julie Reed
Sometimes you save when you spend
“It’s better to have a $100 dress that you look great in and love to wear than three $20 dresses that you never wear or feel frumpy in. When you have something that you love to wear, you will get creative in that you will find different ways to wear it, and in turn, one piece equals different looks.”
Loreto Echevarria
Swap, don’t shop
Clothes swaps — gatherings with friends in which everyone brings items to exchange — are a great way to get rid of things that don’t fit or you don’t wear and pick up something “new.”
Julie Reed
Button it up
“Replacing old plastic buttons gives your wardrobe a breath of fresh air. It is a quick and inexpensive update.”
Loreto Echevarria
Shop resale
OK, everyone knows this one. But, do you know how to shop such a store?
“Shop second-hand stores by starting the farthest away from the dressing room and working your way towards it, methodically going from rack to rack. Also, shop a size up and a size down when it comes to bottoms. Most people fit a size range of four different sizes between different brands.”
Stephanie Lew
Patience pays off
When you find things you like, resist the urge to buy right away. Instead, periodically check back.
“Wait a week, a couple of weeks. They will be on sale.”
Yekatherina Bruner
Caring can cost you
“When you buy items that are silk or have specialized detail, you’re investing in more than just the sticker price. You’ll have to get those items dry cleaned every time you wear them and that can cost an extra $5-$10 per wear.”
Stephanie Lew
